Insecticide obtained from plants for use on termites

Details Insecticide obtained from plants for use on termites Insecticide obtained from plants for use on termites

1999-08-20

2003-11-04

Naff, David M. (Department: 1651)

Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

Preparations characterized by special physical form

Biocides; animal or insect repellents or attractants

C424S725000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06641827

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an insecticide useful for exterminating or controlling termites or other insects (e.g., injurious insects), a process for producing the same, and a method for exterminating or controlling insects (e.g., injurious insects) using the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVETNION
As insecticides or insecticidal compositions for exterminating or controlling termites, cockroaches and other injurious insects, there have been used highly insecticidal chemically synthesized agents. These agents are, however, highly harmful to human beings and animals and strongly affect the environment, having possibilities of destroying the ecosystem of nature.
Insecticides derived from natural materials have also been known. For example, obacunone in
Phellodendron amurense
Rupr.,
P. molle
Nakai and berberine in the root of
Coptis japonica
Makino and the cortex of
Phellodendron amurense
Rupr. have been recognized to be effective in controlling or destroying termites.
As a highly safe agent for controlling or exterminating termites, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 41011/1991 (JP-A-3-41011) discloses an insecticide containing as an effective ingredient (or an active ingredient) an extract extracted with an organic solvent or a water-containing solvent from the neem tree. Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 329514/1994 (JP-A-6-329514) discloses the use of a component extracted or oozed from a plant of, e.g., the genus Moringa or the genus Marah as an insecticide or an agent for controlling or exterminating injurious insects. However, the effects of exterminating or controlling injurious insects of these plants have not reached a desired level yet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an insecticide or an agent for exterminating or controlling insects (e.g., injurious insects) of high insect-repellency and insecticidal activity, and a process for producing the same.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an insecticide or an insect-repellent agent which is highly safe to human beings and animals and does not adversely affect the environment, and a process for producing the same.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for exterminating or controlling insects (e.g., injurious insects) assuredly and efficiently.
The inventors of the present invention made extensive studies to obtain an insecticide or an insect-repellent agent which is derived from a plant and exhibits high insecticidal activity and repellency against insects, and found that components contained in specific plants, extracts or oozes thereof are highly safe, insecticidal and insect-repellent. The present invention is based on the above findings.
Thus, the insecticide or insect-repellent agent of the present invention comprises at least one member selected from a plant, an extract of the plant, and an ooze of the plant, each containing an insecticidal component, wherein the plant belongs to at least one genus selected from:
(1) the genus Geranium,
(2) the genus Morus,
(3) the genus Crataegus,
(4) the genus Rubia,
(5) the genus Artemisia,
(6) the genus Curcuma,
(7) the genus Gardenia,
(8) the genus Cornus,
(9) the genus Terminalia,
(10) the genus Saussurea,
(11) the genus Uncaria,
(12) the genus Rheum,
(13) the genus Diospyros, and
(14) the genus Polygonum.
The extract may be a substance extracted with at least one member selected from water and a hydrophilic solvent. The amount of the insecticidal component is 0.01 to 80% by weight relative to the insecticide in terms of the extract or ooze.
The present invention further includes a process for producing an insecticide or an insect-repellent agent which comprises subjecting a plant to at least one step selected from the group consisting of:
(i) a treatment step comprising at least one step selected from the group consisting of shredding, drying and pulverizing;
(ii) an extraction step using an extracting solvent; and
(iii) an oozing step,
whereby obtaining at least one member selected from the group consisting of a treated plant, an extract of the plant and an ooze of the plant, each containing an insecticidal component.
The present invention further includes a method for exterminating or controlling injurious insects using the above insecticide.
In the specification, the term “ooze” or “exudate” refers not only to oozes collected from the trunk of a plant but broadly to substances oozed from plants. Moreover, the word “insecticidal” or “insect-repellent” is taken to mean both insecticidability and repellency against insects including injurious insects.
As will be described below, since the insecticide of the present invention comprises an insecticidal component or ingredient derived from a plant specified above, it is highly safe and capable of exterminating and repelling insects (e.g., injurious insects) without adversely affecting the ecosystem of nature.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Examples of the plants that belong to the genus Geranium are
Geranium thunbergii
and
Geranium robentianum. Geranium thunbergii
is a perennial plant that grows naturally in mountains and fields of all over the country of Japan and is in frequent use as an antidiarrheal agent or a drug for controlling intestinal function.
Geranium robentianum
has been employed as a folk medicine in Europe.
As a plant which belongs to the genus Morus, there may be exemplified
Morus alba
and
Morus bombycis. Morus alba
and
Morus bombycis
are deciduous trees naturally growing or cultivated in mountains and field all over the country of Japan, and known for antiinflammatory, diuretic, antitussive, and expectrant components contained therein.
Examples of a plant which belongs to the genus Artemisia, there may be mentioned, e.g.,
Artemisia princeps, Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia montana, Artemisia cina, Artemisia capillaris, Artemisia annua, Artemisia scoparia,
and
Artemisia maritima. Artemisia princeps
is a perennial (a perennial herb) naturally and wildly growing in mountains and fields of Japan. The dried leave thereof, gaiyo, are decocted and used for relieving stomachache or bellyache and are known to contain antidiarrheal and hemostatic components.
As a plant of the genus Diospyros, there may be exemplified
Diospyros kaki
and
Diospyros ebenum,
and a
kaki
calyx (the dried calyx of an unripe fruit of
Diospyros kaki
) has been employed for getting rid of hiccups.
Examples of a plant of the genus Crataegus are
Crataegus cuneata, Crataegus pentagyna, Crataegus pinnatifida,
and
Crataegus oxyacantha.
They are deciduous shrubs originally from China and found to have stomachic, digestive and intestine function-conditioning effects, antimicrobial activity, and a vasodilating effect, being employed and known also as a cardiotonic agent.
As a plant which belongs to the genus Curcuma, there may be exemplified
Curcuma longa
(domestica),
Curcuma xanthorriza, Curcuma aromatica,
and
Curcuma zedoaria. Curcuma longa
(domestics) is a perennial (a perennial herb) originally from tropic Asia and cultivated typically in India and China for medicinal use. It has been known that they contain cholagogic and stomachic components. Also
Curcuma xanthorriza
and
Curcuma aromatica
have been employed as cholagogues or aromatic stomachics.
Examples of a plant of the genus Rubia are
Rubia cordiflolia
var.
munjista
and
Rubia tinctorum. Rubia cordiflolia
var.
munjista
is a perennial (a perennial liana) naturally growing in mountains and fields, traditionally having been used as a scarlet dye. In addition, it is known that it contains hemostatic and diuretic components, etc.
Rubia tinctorum
also has been used for dyeing and medical treatment for kidney and diseases of urinary organ, bladder and so forth.
As a plant which belongs to the genus Polygonum, there may be mentioned, for example,
Polygonum tinctorium, Polygonum multiflorum,
and
Polygonum avicurare. Polygonum tinctorium
is a plant originally from Indo-China and known as a dye for indig

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